CRIME writer Sir Ian Rankin received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
Rankin, creator of Detective Inspector John Rebus and winner of several national and international awards, was knighted for his services to literature and charity.
The University of Edinburgh graduate, 63, is known across the world for his popular crime novels focused on Rebus, which are mostly based in and around the Scottish capital.
Knots & Crosses, the first in the Rebus series, was published in 1987 and the detective has now featured in 26 books. They have been translated into 22 languages and have become bestsellers on several continents.
In 2019, Rankin donated his archive of 50 boxes and manuscripts to the National Library of Scotland.
The items stretch from 1972 to 2018 and include correspondence with literary figures, publishing companies and police officers.
In 2002, the crime writer was made an OBE for services for literature, and a year later he was awarded an honorary doctorate from his former university.
He has since received honorary doctorates from the Open University and the University of Hull.
In 2015, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and the year after was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Speaking last year about the knighthood, the author said: “It is amazing to be honoured in this way as we celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. It may not make writing my next book any easier but it is gratifying to be recognised both for my crime novels and the work I do for charity.
“I’m not sure what Detective Inspector John Rebus would make of it – he’d almost certainly tell me not to get too big-headed. I’ll do my best, while pouring a glass of something refreshing.”
The Rebus novels are also getting a fresh TV adaptation with Outlander star Richard Rankin taking on the leading role.
